• General Notes

  Anna Marie Hicks was born the oldest child of seven children to be born of the marriage of Other Eugene and Noraetta Jean Watkins) Hicks. She was born July 24, 1946 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.
  
  Anna learned very many things while growing up in her mom and dad's rural farm located north of Alexandria, Ohio in Licking Co. She learned to sew, quilt, cook, housekeeping and all things necessary in the care of a large family from her mother. She graduated from Northridge High School, located east of Johnstown, Ohio in Licking County.
  
  While attending her Senior Class Skip Day Picnic at Buckeye Lake Park in May 1964, she met Rick Wilkin who with his twin sister were members of the graduating class of Northridge High. Rick had attended classes at the Heath Vocational High School in Heath Ohio but was still enrolled at Northridge High, so apparently their paths had not previously crossed until the picnic. They started dating and were married in July 1965 in Greensboro, South Carolina.
  
  As Rick was an enlisted member of the US Air Force this meant that Anna had to leave the peaceful surroundings of her parents rural home to the rustle and bustle of Air Force communities around the world. She had to pick up and move the entire family whenever and wherever the Air Force would send her husband. She moved first to Wichita, Kansas for about one year and then back to an apartment in Johnstown, Ohio where on August 6, 1966, the couple's first child, Juanita Annette was born in Newark, Ohio. Just after delivering this child, her husband left for an assignment in Southeast Asia where he was involved with the Vietnam War. This was a very long separation for Rick and Anna but she managed to keep the home fires burning and when Rick returned in 1967, they moved back to Wichita. There were several more separations as Rick was always being called upon to do temporary duty in other parts of the world for up to six months at a time. Through it all, Anna kept things going at home. Between his absences she managed to have two more children Glenda Jean on July 14, 1968 and Paul Allen on August 2, 1971.
  
  Shortly after Glenda wa born, Rick re-enlisted for another four years and with the bonus he received, they purchased their first home at 1000 N. Buckner St. in Derby, Kansas. This was the family's home until December of 1971.
  
  When Paul was just four months old, Rick was assigned to duties in Incirlik, Turkey, In due time Anna and her three children journeyed to Turkey by Airplane to meet Rick there. This was quite an experience and lasted almost two and half years. While stationed in Turkey, Rick was assigned to temporary duty tours in Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Spain and around the earth twice in caring for the Aircraft of the US Air Force. In 1973, Rick arranged for their first honeymoon to Athens, Greece where they spent a week just seeing the sights and catching up on lost time together.
  
  Shortly after this trip, Rick was assigned to an Airbase in Indiana. In March 1975 Rick was assigned to duties with the Air Force Recruiting Command and after graduating from Recruiting School, he was assigned to an Air Base in Nebraska and lived in Hastings, Nebraska Later he was reassigned to an office in Council Bluffs, Iowa. and the family moved into Base Housing at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. After about one year Rick was assigned to duties in Rapid City South Dakota in 1977. After living in Base Housing on Ellsworth AFB for about two years, they managed to build their own home on a hillside about eight miles east of Rapid City, S. Dakota. This home proved to be a great place to live which they enjoyed very much.
  
  Rick had been sent to school for almost a year to learn the equipment for the Airborne Command Post and had made Technical Sergeant then had joined the crews that flew and maintained the Aircraft and equipment for the Flying Command Post. This assignment took Rick away from home for weeks at a time and there was always irregular hours with flights at most anytime of the day or night.
  
  Anna worked at several jobs to supplement the family income and to occupy herself while Rick was away. The children had become teenagers and then high school and then graduation. Anna had the responsibility of getting them to activities and at the same time maintaining a working career.
  
  In July 1984, Rick retired from the Air Force and then began the task of finding suitable employment. Rick accepted employment with Photon Sources, a Laser Company in Lavonia, Michigan. The family reluctantly moved from their home in the Black Hills and moved to Garden City, Michigan where they purchased a home. Glenda and Paul graduated from High School in Garden City then Paul left to attend Wentworth Academy in Missouri and a year later received an appointment to attend the Air Force Academy. In the winter of 1991 Paul had to leave the Academy because of stress. Rick and Anna were unhappy in Michigan and the family moved to Pueblo West, Colorado. Rick's father decided to join them in Colorado. He purchased a home about a half mile from Rick and Anna. He was getting settled in when he suffered a fatal heart attack on November 16, 1962. Emmitt was returned to Newark, Ohio for burial beside his sister Loree in Wilson Cemetery.
  
  Rick terminated his employment in Pueblo West and accepted employment in Peoria, Illinois They sold their homes in Rapid City and Pueblo West and moved to Peoria. After moving to Illinois, Rick started having Mini-strokes that soon led to disability retirement.
  
  So far his condition has not worsened and they have been able to travel and pursue other hobbies such as fishing. On July 12, 2000, Rick and Anna celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Anna devotes much of her time to following Rick around where he goes to take care of him. They hope that the Good Lord will grant many more years for them to enjoy life and each other and their children and grandchildren. Rick is devoting what time he can to the Family History Project and has completed and published a History of the Samuel and Roseanna Webster Wilkin Family. He has also worked on a History of the Descendants of Thomas Fendel Webster and Elizabeth Pulse Webster. The future of his health is uncertain so he works to make the most of his time. Condensed from a story written by Rick Wilkin for his Wilkin Family History, published in 2000.
  

Details of Anna's family with Richard Allen Wilkin